Bowling alley



Nov. 29, 1938. J. R. KAIsERMAN BOWLING ALLEY Filed May 5, 1958 4 95 J .H. ffiazberflzazz Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The invention forming the subject matter of this application relates to bowling alleys in general and moreparticularly to bowling alleys including an electrical indicator arranged adjacent the lower end of the alley to indicate the particular bowling pins arranged in playing position.

The main object of the invention is to provide a bowling alley and the bowling pins thereof with cooperating means to ensure the proper setting up-of bowling pins'relative to each other, and with means to indicate when any or all the pins are so set;

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description thereof proceeds.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective of the lower or pin supporting end of a bowling alley;

Figure 2 is a central, vertical section through a bowling pin and a cooperating positioning switch forming essential parts of this invention;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan of the bowling pin shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan of the bowling pin spot.

As is Well known in this art, it is essential to the proper playing of the game that the bowling pins shall be arranged in exactly the same position each time they are set up. It is also highly desirable that the players may determine at a glance which of the pins are properly located in playing position. Various devices have been employed heretofore to facilitate the proper positioning of the pins upon their spots. However, these devices usually require either a dowel projecting above the floor to fit in an aperture in the bowling pin or a device projecting from the bowling pin to fit into an aperture formed in the floor. These expedients, therefore, cause obstructions on the alley which impede the free movements of the pin, or pins, after being knocked down, or which deflect the balls rolling over the spots from which balls had been knocked down. In the present invention, each spot is provided with a centering aperture adapted to receive a spring pressed steel ball centered in the bottom of each bowling pin. The aforesaid centering aperture is provided with a spring pressed plunger which closes the aperture and lies flush with the alley floor whenever a pin is knocked from its spot, and therefore eliminates all possibility of knocked down pins or balls being obstructed in their movements over the surface of the alley at the lower end thereof.

As shown particularly in Figure 1, a set of bowling pins is arranged in proper position at the lower end of the alley A; and an electrical indicator I is arranged adjacent the lower end of the alley. This indicator comprises a series of electric lamps having the same arrangement on a board B as have the spots for the bowlingpins used in the game. Each lamp on the indicator is electrically connected to a corresponding spot in the alley; and the electric system is designed so that a lamp is lit only when a bowling pin is properly positioned on its spot. Since the electrical connection between each lamp and corresponding bowling pin is the same for all pins, it is deemed sufficient to describe in detail the construction of one bowling pin and its associated spot and electrical signalling mechanism.

Each bowling pin used in this game comprises a body 5 of conventional shape and ordinarily composed of hard wood. The lower end of the body 5 is provided with a central, counter-sunk socket 6 in which is seated a cylindrical housing I provided at its lower endv with an outwardly directed flange 8, seated'in a countersink of the socket 6 with its surface slightly below the lower end of the bowling pin. The flange 8 is provided with suitable apertures to receive the screws 9 for securing the housing I in the socket 6.

The cylinder l0 formed by the inner surface of the housing 1 is slightly inturned at the lower end to form an inwardly directed flange H which acts as a stop to retain the ball l2 in said cylinder. Normally, the ball i2 is maintained partly projecting below the lower end of the pin 5 by a piston l3 slidably mounted in the cylinder Ill in contact with the ball H2. The other end of the piston I3 is provided with a recess I4 to form a seat for one end of a compression spring IS, the other end of which is seated in a recess "5 formed in an adjusting screw l'l engaging internal screw-threads on the upper end of the cylinder Ill.

The floor of the alley A is provided with a recess H8 in which is seated a spot I9 of insulating material, the upper surface of which is flush with the floor of the alley. This spot l9 and the floor of the alley are bored to receive a switch housing 29, the upper end of which is provided with an outwardly directed flange 2i seated in a counter-sink 22 formed centrally in the insulating spot l9. The outer surface receive an adjustable collar 21.

of a ball over the alley floor.

of the switch housing 20, where it projects below the floor of the alley A, is externally screwthreaded to receive a clamping nut'23 operable against the usual metallic washer 24.

A plunger fits snugly and slidably in the cylinder formed by the inner surface of the housing 20, and has projecting from the lower end, a rod 26 screw-threaded at its lower end to The inner surface of the lower end of the plunger housing 20 is internally screw-threaded to receive a nut 28 centrally apertured to form a guide for the lower end of the plunger rod 26 and to form a stop for the collar 21. Y

A switch designated generally by the reference numeral 29 and controlling the operation of the signal lamp 5 is secured to a plate 30 apertured to embrace the lower end of the plunger housing 20 and is clamped thereon between the nuts 3| and 32. A pair of spring contact members 33 and 34 are mounted parallel to the plate 30 and spaced apart from each other and from the plate 30 by the insulating spacer members 35 and 36 arranged on a screw-threaded rod 3'5 provided at its lower end with, lock nuts 38 for securing the several parts in assembled position. The outer ends of the spring 33 and 34 are provided with contact terminals 39 and 43, respectively, connected by wiring to the signal lamp 5. The other end of the spring contact members 33 and 34 are provided with contact points 4| and G2 normally separated from each other when the upper end of the plunger 25 is flush with the floor of the alley; that is, when there is no bowling pin located on its spot to depress said plunger.

It will be obvious from inspection of the drawing that the upper end of the plunger housing 20 forms a cup to receive the ball l2 of the bowling pin to ensure the setting of the pin'in exactly the same position after each play. It will also be apparent that when any pin is knocked down, the plunger 25 will close the cup formed by the upper end of the housing 20 to remove all possibility of this 'cups obstructing the passage The switch mechanism, therefore, performs a duel function: (1) it serves to operate an indicator to show which of the pins in a set are positioned properly for playing; and (2) to close the cup-like depression in the fioor of the alley which receives the positioning ball of the bowling pin, and thereby presents a smooth surface over which the ball may roll when any of the pins are knocked down.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be considered as limited to the precise details of construction shown and described herein, nor in any other manner except as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a bowling alley, apinplatform fixed flush with the alley surface and having an aperture extending therethrough with the upper end thereof adapted to receive and position a positionin member projecting from the end of a tenpin, a plunger slidable in said aperture, and yielding means for normally holding said plunger with its upper end flush with said surface, said plunger being movable below said surface only by pressure of the positioning member of a ten pin supported in playing position by said platform.

2. In a bowling alley, a pin platform fixed flush with the alley surface and having an aperture eX- tending therethrough with the upper end thereof adapted to receive and position a positioning member projecting from the end of a tenpin, a plunger slidable in said aperture, yielding means for normally holding said plunger with its upper end flush with said surface, said plunger being movable below'said surface only by pressure of the positioning member of a ten pin supported in playing position by said platform, and a normally open electric circuit including a signal and adapted to be closed by the movement of said plunger below said surface.

3. In a bowling alley, a pin platform fixed flush with the alley surface and having an aperture extending therethrough with the upper end thereof adapted to receive and position a positioning member projecting from the end of a tenpin, 'a plunger slidable in said aperture, yielding means for normally holding said plunger with its upper end flush with said surface, said plunger being-movable below said surface only by pressure of the positioning member of a ten pin supported in playing position by said platform, and signal means operable by movement of the plunger below the surface of said platform.

JACOB R. KAISERMAN. 

